Thank you for registering to get your German tax back with taxback.com.

Our German tax team will call you shortly to go through your application. This quick call will ensure we cover all the tax periods you may be due a refund for so we can get you the maximum legal tax refund.

If you want to progress your application in the meantime you can download the forms which are required in order for you to receive your refund. Simply complete and sign them and return along with copies of your final payment documents by mail to your nearest Taxback.com office.

We will be setting you up with a personal Tax Tracker® account which will enable you to follow the step-by-step progress of your refund. You will receive details on how to activate this shortly.

Don't forget to find us on Facebook to get the latest news and details of exclusive competitions! And if you want to boost your refund, check out our Tell a Friend page for more details.

Got any questions in the meantime? Contact us or chat live online with a tax agent about your refund.

Tax Refund Claims For Sailors On German Registered Ships

People sailing on vessels bearing the German flag are usually taxed as single tax payers even though they may have family in their home country. If you’re sailing on a German-registered ship we can review your tax circumstances and check if you are due a German tax refund.

If you’re not being taxed correctly and you’re an EU / EEA Resident, we can amend how you are taxed and apply for a higher tax-free allowance when we submit your annual tax return.

Furthermore, we can claim a food and beverage allowance of €24 per day for all the days you have sailed under German flag. Expenses for professional education and renewal of sailing related certificates can also be claimed so it’s well worth checking what you’re owed.

German Sailors FAQ

?When can I get my tax back?

We can apply for your German tax refund once the German tax year ends.If you’re applying for a refund from the last five years you can apply for your refud now; fill out a Tax Pack to get started.

?How long is the German tax year?

The tax year in Germany is from January 1st to December 31st.

?How much money will I get back?

We will claim back as much overpaid tax for you as we legally can. This amount will depend on multiple factors, including but not limited to:

Your earnings

The earnings of your spouse

Your foreign income

The actual number of days you were sailing under German flag

The average refund we get for our German sailors is €2750 so use our FREE online tax refund calculator now to see how much cash you could get back.

?How long will it take to receive my German tax refund? Where's my refund?

It normally takes about 2 to 4 months to get your German tax refund.

?What happens during this time?

Once we receive your documents our certified public accountant checks them to make sure they’re compliant with German tax law. After that they’re sent to the German tax office. This takes a week.It then takes the tax office between 7 and 15 weeks to process your application once they receive your application. Once it’s processed they’ll release your refund to us.We will then contact you to arrange the best way to send you your refund.

?How does taxback.com work?

1. Register online by using our FREE refund calculator or filling out your German tax pack. 2. Send us your documents and signed forms so we can give you your own personal online Tax Tracker account and start processing your refund. 3. Relax while we do all the work and get you the maximum tax refund possible.

?How do I know what's happening with my tax return?

The best way to see what’s happening with your application is by emailing your account manager directly or checking your online Tax Tracker account.

?What are the advantages of using Taxback.com?

There are numerous advantages to using Taxback.com, some of which are:

You get the maximum legal refund

You get FREE online refund estimations

You get your own Personal Online Tracking Account where you can follow the process of your tax return

?What documents do I need to apply for my tax refund?

?What is a Lohnsteuerkarte/ Lohnsteuerbescheinigungs?

This is the official government form that you receive from each of your employers at the end of the tax year which outlines your earnings and the amount of tax you paid that year.

?What is a Steuernummer?

A Steuernummer is a tax number issued by your local tax office in Germany. If this is your first tax refund application ever in Germany you will have a Steueridentificationsnummer. These numbers last for a life time and don’t change no matter how many times you move or leave Germany.Having these numbers can speed up your tax refund application so make sure you let us know about them. The number will be on your documents from the tax office.

?What should I do if I lost my documents or I never got them?

Try not to panic; just email germany@taxback.com to let us know and for a small fee we can find them for you.

?I earned money outside of Germany during the year – should I declare it?

Yes. You need to tell us about all your earnings for the entire year - including earnings outside of Germany. This doesn’t mean that your foreign income will be taxed in Germany and the German Tax authorities require this information to assess the most proper tax rate.

?Can I file my tax return myself?

Technically you could, but it’s not always as easy as it looks. It’s no fun spending time sitting at a computer screen searching for forms, decoding complicated tax law and ringing up tax help lines to get answers. That’s what’s great about using taxback.com; you don’t have to do this. Let us speed through all the paperwork to file your tax return quickly and easily so all you have to worry about is what you’re going to spend your tax refund on!

A tax return is document declaring your liability for taxation while a tax refund is the money you get back if you’ve made an overpayment for a particular tax. We file your tax return in order to apply for your tax refund.

?Can you guarantee that I'll receive the refund amount you estimated for me?

Our estimation is based on years of tax calculations, so it’s a pretty close estimate of what you’ll get back, but no, it’s not guaranteed. However, we will make sure to get you back the maximum legal tax refund possible by thoroughly analysing your case and applying all the deductions and benefits you’re entitled to.

?I have also sailed under a foreign flag this year, will this influence my tax refund?

Yes, we have to include in your tax return the amount you have earned in any different jurisdictions. However, you are not eligible to claim the additional food and beverage allowance for the days on board a ship under a foreign flag but you might still get a significant refund amount.

Sailors on German ships may also be able to claim a food and beverage allowance

If you apply for a tax refund with taxback.com and you’re a sailor on a German-registered ship, we will look at your individual circumstances to make sure you get everything you are owed. The food and beverage allowance can be as much as €24 per day so it’s well worth checking what you can get back. We will provide a free German tax refund estimation so talk to us today.

Find Out More

Prefer to talk to us?

Check out our Contact Us page for your nearest office

Useful German Tax Facts

The German tax year runs from 1st January – 31st December

The amount of your refund will depend on how many days you’ve spent sailing on a German-registered ship

The average tax refund for German sailors is €2750

If you have additional sources of income other than through your German sailing income, this needs to be declared on an annual basis

It's free to get a German tax refund estimation

Find Out More

Our German tax refund calculator is free to use so you can find out what you are owed and then decide whether or not to proceed. The German tax calculator will give you an estimation but once you apply for a tax refund, we will look at additional circumstances to see how we can maximise your refund. Start today for free!

TAXBACK.COM Reviews & Feedback

Customer Corner

27 February 2019

Rebecca Colcloughrebecc

I admirer how well your staff members communicate with there clients one lady in particular was great help to me and very kinda and well mannered her names was mairead Morgan thankyou for your amazing service I will be recommending this site

22 February 2019

Carey Corlett-Donald

Straight forward and good service from agents

20 February 2019

Basil Glennon

My agent was very helpful , efficient and professional .

14 February 2019

Jack

So fast easy and reliable. They do all the work and handle everything with ease. They just took the info I provided and got back to me with a larger then expected figure of tax back. Couldn't be happier at recommend enough

14 February 2019

Niamh O Connell

The whole process is quick and easy. The agents are fantastic to deal with and really helpful. I have been using Taxback.com for years now and have no intention to ever change. The level of customer services and communication is brilliant. I am always kept up to date as soon as information is available.

01 February 2019

Yeshi

Customer Service

31 January 2019

Breana Field

The personal communications from your agents made all the difference in my choice to use TaxBack. Overwhelmed with what should have been a simple process due to an error going back several years in my taxes, I gave up doing them myself and handed it over to TaxBack. I was assured all 3 years would be fixed and my refunds recieved. Once I handed over my paperwork I never had to ask about updates or remind my agent to do anything - they were so on top of it and made it so easy! Matthew Lloyd was especially helpful and I can't thank him enough for his continued clear communications and patient explanations which saved me so much time!

30 January 2019

Umidjon Otayorov

Tax Tracker service

24 January 2019

Stephen Rocliffe

Taxback.com has been so , so easy to use and understand . My agent Yordan Marinov was very helpful and had great patience with me as I'm not very good at doing anything like this on line .I have already told friends and family about Taxback and that they should use them .So easy and uncomplicated .

23 January 2019

Justin David Tieng

The agents are super helpful and efficient. I would rate them 8.5/10 .

23 January 2019

Gary Walsh

Spot on. Very professional and efficient. Felt as if the organisation had my best interests at heart.